Hi, my name is Samuel Ardito. Many of you knew me as a young boy with a rare autoimmune disease called systemic vasculitis, who underwent a bone marrow transplant in 1998, became the 15th Honorary United States Marine, had dozens of fund-raising events all over the state of Connecticut, or even remember me because of my past artwork. Well let me catch you up just a bit. My family decided to move to Naples Florida in 2003. I was a thriving 8th grader. Four years had passed and in 11th grade I had gotten the shingles and that triggered an immune response and this time around with new symptoms of systemic vasculitis. I had to quit the lacrosse team, had to stop working because of chemotherapy; had to finish up the 12th grade at home. I wad barely able to walk without pain because of nerve damage and joint inflammation. My life came to a full standstill again. I suffered several TIAs or mini strokes after high school between 2009-2015. First stroke caused full deafness of my left ear. I am unable to work at all because of the damage to my kidneys caused by the vasculitis. I have major brain fog, and chronic fatigue daily and this makes it such a challenge to even do the simplest of tasks. The chronic fatigue and brain fog could be from my kidney damage, the systemic vasculitis or both. I am currently living with my parents in FL and need to rely on them since I am unable to work and have no vehicle. I am grateful for my parent’s help but this was never a situation I ever thought I’d be in and it’s all medical related. I know I will get through this somehow but support from others goes such a long way.

Thank you

With much love

Samuel Ardito